1872 Josef Erben Map of the Czech Republic / Czechia / Bohemia

A rare and beautiful 1872 chromolithograph map of Bohemia (today's Czech Republic) by Czech publisher Josef Erben. This map is significant as, issued during a time of Czech cultural revival and growing nationalism, it represents one of the first maps of Bohemia issued fully in Czech. As such, it is one of the first maps to employ and promote Czech cartographic terminology, which lacking established native cartographic tradition, Erben had to invent from scratch. The terminology presented here had a significant influence on other Czech and subsequent Slavic cartography, who took inspiration from Erben's vocabulary.

Czech Nationalism

The issue of this map follows closely on the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. This agreement established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, but was a point of contention in Bohemia, which although included within the empire, was not recognized as a co-equal power. General dissatisfaction with the situation led to a rise in Czech nationalism and a search for Czech identify. Czech language art, literature, and cartography flourished.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it emerged as the dominate method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This map was first issued in 1869. Published by K. Jansky in Jindrichuv Hradec and Tabor, and printed by the Institute for Lithography Bedrich Sandtner in Wenceslaus Square, in Prague. The present example, 1872, is likely the second edition, although no complete cartobibliography of this map has been undertaken. The map appears occasionally on the market, but is scarce in institutional hands. We have identified multiple examples at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, and one in the David Rumsey collection, but no others.